Pre-Game Preview: Padres try to get split Sunday in Houston

HOUSTON  The Padres Sunday will seek avoid losing a four-game series at Minute Maid Park for the first time since 2005.

Getting the assignment of pulling the Padres even on the fourth game of a seven-game road trip will be left-hander Clayton Richard, who has never before faced the Astros.

Pitching for the Astros will be left-hander Brett Myers, who is 10-1 at Minute Maid Park with a 2.26 ERA over 20 games (18 starts).

Myers has had success against Padres (2-1, 2.84 ERA in six games, five starts) but not as much luck against hitters who became Padres last winter.

Ryan Ludwick is 8-for-13 against Myers with a pair of home runs. Jorge Cantu, who was ill Saturday night with flu-like symptoms, is 8-for-17 against Myers with two homers. And Cameron Maybin is 5-for-10.

All are in the lineup Sunday.

The Padres have lost 12 of their last 19 games at Minute Maid Park.

After Sunday's game, the Padres will fly to Chicago, where they open a three-game series against the Cubs Monday night. Then it's back home to San Diego, where the Padres host the Phillies for the first of four games next Thursday night.

PADRES (6-8) at ASTROS (5-10)

Time: 11:05 a.m. / Game 4 of 4

TV: Channel 4 Padres.

Radio: 1090-AM, 1700-AM; 860-AM (Spanish)

Pitching Matchups

Padres LHP Clayton Richard: 1-0, 2.45 ERA in three starts.

Richard vs. the Astros: First career meeting.

Richard at Minute Maid Park: First career appearance.

Richard will be making his first appearance ever against the Astros. An unearned run caused by his own throwing error probably denied him a 2-1 win over the Reds last Tuesday night at Petco Park. He is 14-10 with a 4.91 ERA in 46 career road games, including 36 starts.

Astros vs. Richard

Clint Barmes: .412 (7-for-17, 2 BB, 4 SO)

Matt Downs: .000 (0-for-6)

Bill Hall: .400 (2-for-5, HR, SO)

Astros RHP Brett Myers: 1-0, 1.77 ERA in three starts.

Myers vs. the Padres: 2-1 career, 1.77 ERA in six games, five starts.

Myers at Minute Maid Park: 10-1, 2.26 ERA in 20 games, 18 starts.

After struggling (six runs on 15 hits over 19 2/3 innings, for an ERA of 2.75) against three starters who entered their games against the Padres with a combined ERA of 8.13, the Padres run into Houston's ace in the finale of the four-game series. Myers was 14-8 with a 3.14 ERA in 33 starts last year. But three players who have never faced Myers as a Padre (Ryan Ludwick, Cameron Maybin and Jorge Cantu) are a combined 21-for-40 against Myers with four homers.